The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Gaelic Incantations. 379
Here is an Irish version of the toothache charm, or, as
it is called, Ortha an dtaidh-fhiacal
—
Chuaidh Peadar go sruth for-Ian.
Thainic Chriost os a chionn,
" Cia'rd sin ort, a Pheadair ?"
m' fhiacail ata tinn."
"Eiiigh, a Pheadair, a's bi slan,
Ni tusa acht feara P'ail."
" O !
Aon duine a gheillfeas no a deanfadh an ortha,
Ni beidheadh i n-diaigh na h-ortha diaidh in aon deud
amhain.
An ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid
Naoimh. Amen.
Translated
—
—
: —
St Peter went to a full running stream ;
Christ went to meet him and said,
" What ails thee, Peter ?"
" O ! my tooth doth ache.''
"Arise, Peter, and be well
Not you alone, but also the men of Innisfail."
Any believing in or saying this incantation
Will not have toothache thereafter in even one tooth.
In nomine patris, &c. Amen.
I lately noted, from the recitation of an Eigg crofter, a
toothache charm, which has a certain resemblance to the
Irish one. It is as follows :
Translated
—
Labhair Calum-Cille nan Orth'
Ann an ordag dheas mo Righ
Air chnuimh, air dheigh, air dheideadh
Air dheideadh a' ghalar-chinn.
Labhair Peadair ri Seumas
" Cha choisich, cha mharcaich,
Cha teid mi
Leis an deideadh a tha m' cheann."
Labhair Criosda ris na h-Ostail
" Cha bhi 'n deideadh is an Rann-s'
'S an aona cheann."
Columba of the Incantations
Spoke in the right thumb of my King
On worm, on ache, on toothache—
—